Agencies tight-lipped about rail corridor plan request

May 2, 2013

State agencies aren't saying much about a request from a trail advocacy group for a review of the Adirondack rail corridor's unit management plan.

Earlier this week, the Adirondack Recreational Trail Advocates submitted a formal request to the state departments of Environmental Conservation and Transportation and the Adirondack Park Agency, asking for the UMP to be reopened as required by the original 1996 document.

The Enterprise reached out to spokespeople at all three agencies for comment on ARTA's letter.

DOT Capital Region spokeswoman Carol Breen wrote Monday that DOT was "working on a response." After several follow-up emails, Breen wrote back Wednesday, saying she was still trying to get a statement. There was no response this morning.

DEC spokeswoman Emily DeSantis said in an email that her agency is reviewing the letter.

"APA is not lead agency," APA spokesman Keith McKeever wrote in an email. "APA received the letter and will take the request under advisement."

The current UMP allows for the operation of a tourist train on the corridor. Locally, the Adirondack Scenic Railroad runs between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, mostly during the summer.

ARTA has been pushing for the train tracks to be removed in favor of a year-round, multi-use recreational trail.